HTC opens SA office

skimread

skimread

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http://www.iol.co.za/scitech/technology/business/htc-opens-sa-office-1.1235805

Cape Town - HTC has launched a local office to grow its presence in South Africa and then on into the Sub Saharan region.

The smartphone manufacturer will retain Leaf International Communications as its sole distribution partner for South Africa although the nature of Leaf's involvement will change.

Jon French, HTC Vice President of Sales and Operations for the EMEA region, told Telkom Do Gaming in an exclusive interview that HTC is looking to build the foundations for a strong brand in South Africa before replicating it elsewhere in Africa.

“The move into South Africa has nothing to do with our relationship with Leaf, but was merely a change in the distribution strategy for Sub Saharan Africa. Leaf has been a great partner. As a major brand, you want your own people to drive growth in the region,” he says.

As a result, HTC has appointed Ian Shore as country manager. Shore is well respected within in the mobile industry where he has worked for almost 15 years and was previously head of product at Samsung Mobile.

French adds that HTC retains Leaf as a strategic partner who will service 8ta, Cell C, Nashua Mobile, Autopage Cellular and Virgin Mobile, while HTC will focus its direct resources on MTN and Vodacom.


Jon French, HTC Vice President of Sales and Operations.
SUPPLIED
Interestingly, the changeover began around April last year around the time that French moved from being executive director for the UK, Ireland and South Africa to his current position. Shore was then appointed late last year.

French says HTC's aim is to build the brand locally and the market's understanding of what sets HTC smartphones apart from its competitors. Shore adds that the focus for HTC locally will be on HTC's Android devices.

“We'll be focusing on the Hero product set initially (ie. phones launched in multiple markets) which is a strong family of devices and will help build the HTC brand locally,” French says.

That's not to say that HTC won't be bringing in Windows Mobile smartphones. French says HTC has been with Microsoft since the beginning of Windows Mobile and remains committed to the partnership. Interestingly, HTC is probably better known for its Windows Mobile devices in South Africa.

And while HTC's certainly shown its belief in the local market by launching a regional office in tough global economic times, it is on the back of a poor fourth quarter in 2011, where the company's results dipped slightly compared to the same period in 2010, with operating income dropping 26 percent.

Locally, both French and Shore will undoubtedly be aware that they face stiff opposition on the Android front from the likes of Samsung, the company both men worked at before joining HTC. And on the Windows front, Nokia's Lumia will no doubt give them a run for their money. - Telkom Do Gaming
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This explains why it was bloody impossible to get a Sensation through MTN... Good on ya', HTC. Your products deserve better than what LEAF has delivered over the years.
 
HapticSimian said:
This explains why it was bloody impossible to get a Sensation through MTN... Good on ya', HTC. Your products deserve better than what LEAF has delivered over the years.
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No it just means HTC sells directly to MTN and Vodacom due to large volume buying instead of Leaf acting as a middleman. MTN still messed up your order.

HTC won't open stores to the public although I wish they did.
 
skimread said:
No it just means HTC sells directly to MTN and Vodacom due to large volume buying instead of Leaf acting as a middleman. MTN still messed up your order.

HTC won't open stores to the public although I wish they did.
Click to expand...

There was no order to be mixed up; MTN simply didn't have 90% of the HTCs available. If there were changes in distribution afoot, it would go some way to explaining the situation.

As for your second statement - LEAF are quite closely involved with Lab88 although I'm not not certain how or if they're directly affiliated. That's where I bought my phone in the end.
 
About <swearword> time.

I will almost say its too late, the damage done to market perception will take a while to fix.
 
One thing HTC does better is the software updates.

They provide more regular os updates to their devices and fota just makes life a lot easier.

Hell I am even willing to consider an HTC as my next phone if they guarantee updates for 18 months.
 
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